The Qtube Feature

Ang Multo ng Fire Exit

Dahil sa mga bagyong nagdaan, kinailangan ko ring lumikas mula sa bayan ng Obando. Masyado nang mataas ang baha roon at imposible nang magbyahe araw-araw papuntang opisina. Tumuloy ako sa unit ng aking nakababatang kapatid sa Mandaluyong City. Hindi ko akalain na dahil sa lugar na ito ay magkakaroon ako ng bagong istorya.

Sa ilang buwan na paninirahan ng aking kapatid dito ay normal naman ang lahat. Normal hanggang dumating ang aking…

Unang gabi. Graveyard shift ang aking kapatid kaya ako lamang mag-isa sa bahay noon. Matapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko, ay nakatulog na ako. Napanaginipan ko na nagkwe-kwentuhan daw kami ng aking mga kaibigan tungkol sa “The Grudge” movie. Hindi ko na matandaang mabuti pero sa aking panaginip ay tinanong ko daw sila nang “Anong date?” at may sumagot na “April 29!”.

Pagkarinig na pagkarinig ko ng petsa na ‘yun ay bigla akong sumigaw - sa panaginip at sa bigla kong paggising. Nagising ako nang tuluyan at parang may babaeng sali’t-salit na bumubulong sa aking dalawang tenga. Tumayo ako at binuksan ko na lang ang pinto ng kwarto at ang mga ilaw. Sa awa naman ng diyos ay nakatulog akong muli matapos magdasal at maglagay ng rosary sa aking bulsa. Hindi ko muna ito ikinwento sa kapatid ko dahil baka matakot din siya.

Sumunod na araw, dumating ang mom ko para magdala ng iba pang gamit. Nasa opisina ako nun at natutulog naman ang aking kapatid. Habang naglilinis ang nanay ko sa kusina, naramdaman niya na parang may dumaan sa likuran niya. Wala naman daw siya nakita paglingon niya.

Nalaman ko lang ito nang magkwentuhan kami noong sumunod na araw. Ikinwento ko rin sa kanila ang nangyari sa’kin nung unang gabi.

Biglang umamin ang aking kapatid. “Sige sasabihin ko na.” Sabi niya. “Dati daw kasi, may nahulog at namatay dyan sa fire exit (habang itunuturo ang bintana). Lagi daw nagpapakita ‘yun sa elevator o kaya sa lobby.”

Kinilabutan na lang kami sa aming narinig.

Habang isinusulat ko ‘to ay mayrong namuong katanungan sa aking isipan: Naganap kaya ang kanyang pagkahulog sa fire exit noong April 29, ang petsa sa aking panaginip?

Sleepless in Capiz

I've traveled so much in the past year that I've gotten used to sleeping in different places without having to adjust (in short, di na ako namamahay). I've also learned to ignore little creaks, the weird sounds, the sudden whoosh of cold air and dark corners in hotel rooms. I have to because I have to keep my sanity and it's part of my job to travel sometimes.

Since the last time I posted about hotel ghosts, I've been to many more hotels and the one that freaked me out the most was this inn (not even a hotel!) in Capiz last August.

I traveled to Capiz by land from Iloilo. It was a 2-hour trip and I missed breakfast and lunch and was very hungry when we arrived at the inn. It started to rain when we arrived, so we had to dash inside to avoid getting wet. My companion from a foundation I've been working with took care of getting the rooms and I stayed with our stuff while things were being arranged. When the rooms were ready, I just dropped my stuff in and immediately when downstairs to grab a bite.

I hadn't had any sleep the night before because I bungled my flight reservations and had to be at the airport by 3 a.m. to pay for penalties. (When you're booking too many flights this sometimes happens!). So, after eating lunch I headed up to my room.

I left the lights and the aircon on because I knew I wanted to take a nap immediately after eating. I got chills up my spine when I surveyed the room and the bathroom. It wasn't a big room. It had walls in mint green, a small white closet, a bench, a dresser with mirror and a really small bed. When I opened the bathroom door I shivered coz a slight wind passed and I just dismissed it. After seeing the room I went out and asked the front desk if they were sure there weren't any "ghosts" in the inn. The guy said there weren't any.

It was unusually cold in the room. The temperature was different, so I adjusted the temperature, but it still felt the same. I just chalked it up to being tired and put my shawl on the bed (for familiar smells) and took a nap. I woke up about 2 hours later, but did not feel rested. I stood up and checked my mail and did some online chores. After awhile I got ready for dinner and left.

I bugged Dino all throughout dinner about how I felt about the hotel. He said he didn't feel anything and everything was just normal. I delayed going back to my room, but Dino had to do some work and prepare stuff for the training the next day.

I dreaded taking a shower and dilly-dallied by chatting with some friends online. At some point though I knew I had to take a shower already (I cannot not shower before sleeping!), but I still kept on chatting with a friend in Davao. And then I heard the faucet being turned on and then the sound of water flowing from it. I sat up straight and froze. I told myself if wasn't a ghost or anything, so I stood up and opened the bathroom door. The faucets were not turned on. I chided myself about having an over-active imagination and just dismissed the sound and thought that it may have come from the next room or something. So, I turned on the TV and continued chatting with my friend. Then it happened again.

I knew I had to go shower soon, before midnight, so I told my friend to keep my company by just staying online. Kunwari andiyan ka lang ha, dito kunwari sa room. It's probably one of the quickest showers I've taken in my life. When I got out, I just stood there transfixed on a spot near my bed. There wasn't anything there, but I just felt like there was something there. After dressing up, I buzzed my friend to let him know I was okay and that I was going to get some sleep. It was already midnight.

I kept the TV, the lights and my laptop turned on. It took me a long time to fall asleep and couldn't stop thinking that there was something in the closet and something by the bedside table. I fidgeted and kept tossing and turning until I drifted off to sleep. And then I woke up with a start. It felt like I dropped out of nowhere and landed on the bed. The first thing I noticed was the TV was not turned on anymore and it was exactly 3 a.m.

When the sun was up, I immediately checked out and just waited for Dino at the reception area.

The Story Behind the Rocking Chair

Just watch the rocking chair... it's really creepy.

Warm Welcome at 15F

Indeed the 15th floor of the building I used to work for is haunted! The tales in that floor doesn't end with Anne's sharing. It's just the beginning.

I worked for about 5 years in the building where Anne and I met. My first job in that building was at the 12th floor. I thought that I wouldn't have "friends" anymore at the 15th floor when I moved.

I was wrong. Dead wrong.

I moved places several times at the 15th floor. There were a lot of changes when I entered the organization because they had to adjust to the "new media" section that I brought in with me.

Anyway, I was used to staying late in the office and was quite surprised that the place would be deserted by 4:30 p.m. It wasn't a wonder because the average age in the organization when I came in was above 40. They were all scrambling to go home even before the hymn that signaled EOD played.

One thing my spirit questor friend was not able to close was my "third ear" (audio). Back when I was in the 12th floor of that building I used to hear a lot of voices calling out to me (I'll tell that story some other time). I thought that when I moved to the 15th floor it wouldn't happen again. But, of course, it did.

My first encounter was hearing a mature woman call my name. I thought it was one of the mommies from the other section and I'd always say, "Bakit po?" My colleagues would then look at me strangely and tell me no one was calling me. It happened several times and the worst time was when she called out to me when I was already alone in my little corner at the 15th floor. That actually happened on my birthday when I was waiting for my parents to pick me up for my birthday dinner.

I was on the phone at that time and it was way past 7 in the evening. I was looking out the window and watching cars driving by the Skyway. "Aileen," she said, it was barely a whisper. At first I didn't hear it since I was chatting with a friend. "Aileen, " a bit stronger now. I heard it and told my friend, "Just a minute somebody's calling me." I stood up and looked around. Nobody was there. I took a deep breath and ignored the call.

I was quite bothered about it, not scared, but bothered.

The next day I asked the mommies if there was a spirit wandering the area and they said that a few years back one of the publishing supervisors passed away in a car accident. They said she has probably not moved on that's why she still wanders the halls of the 15F. They also told me that I shouldn't be scared coz she was just welcoming me.

And that was just one of the encounters I had in the 15F.

*EOD - end of day

Translation
Bakit po - Why?

Hotel Ghosts

I've been travelling a lot for work in the past few years. I think I spent 45 days of 2006 in different hotel rooms. It's a good thing that I'm not scared of ghosts anymore coz there's always one in every hotel I check into.

Singapore - I must admit I'm not good at scouting good hotels. Anyway, I ended up in a hotel somewhere near Little India (hint hint) and I didn't sleep a wink the two nights I was there. I usually leave the light in the bathroom on whenever I'm alone in a hotel room. The place just felt so heavy and I saw this thing in human form (with matching turban!) standing in front of the bathroom. I hid under the covers, but that didn't help any since the presence was really overwhelming. I ended up leaving for the airport a good 4 hours before my flight just to escape the thingy in my room.

Davao - I had the privilege of staying at this really prestigious, expensive hotel in Davao when I was still in the yellow pages. I was watching TV one evening and had the lights on because I was also doing some reading, when suddenly this shadow in the form of a dragon walked across the wall behind the TV. Shocked I turned the lights on and off, but it was still there. I tried so hard to dismiss it as a small lizard playing tricks on me, but the goosebumps it gave me really freaked me out and as usual, I just hid under the covers and prayed.

Cebu - I just came from Cebu yesterday and this thing I just dismissed it as faulty wiring. I felt that leaving the bathroom light and keeping the door open was kinda freaky so I decided to leave the bedside lamp on. Just one lamp so it wouldn't be too bright. Much to my chagrin I woke up the next morning and all the room lights were turned on! Next time I'll make sure my best friend stays with me!